Metal button



Sept. 11, 1934. w. T. ABEL 1,973,243

METAL BUTTOR Filed Jan. 9, 1933 Y aier Abel Patented Sept. .11, 1934 1,973,243 METALB UTTON' WalterT. Abel, Waterville, assignor toifl e Patent Button Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut a 'ApplicationJanuary 9,1933,

SeriaPNo: 650,931-

My invention relates to "new and useful improvements inbuttons, and more particularly to a sew-on buttonwhich may be of the Mushroom, Fisheye, or other well-known type.

5 One of the objects of the present invention is to produce a button that is relatively strong in construction, of pleasing appearance, and easily and cheaply manufactured.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a button of a relatively thin, ductile metal, presenting a slightly curved upper surface and provided with a peripheral flattened rim, the curvature of the upper surface of the button merging with the peripheral flattened rim, while the outer edge of the rim is rolled to present a neat and finished appearance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a relatively thin button with a slightly curved upper surface and a peripheral flattened rim, so that in the manufacture of the button, a rim surface, rather than an edge, is presented to the outer peripheral rim of the die. Thus, the die may be made with a flattened peripheral rim rather than with a sharp edge. This is an advantage, as a sharp edged die will soon break or wear while the die with the flattened rim will be serviceable for a much longer period.

Still another object of the invention is to produce a relatively cheap button having a rim pressed about its periphery to thereby strengthen the button and, at the same time, permit the die to be made with a rim or blunt surface about its periphery rather than formed with a feathered edge, which would soon disintegrate or wear under the hard usage to which it is put.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention and a part of a die for making the same,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved button on a greatly enlarged scale;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing a portion of the forming die;

Fig. 5 is a view of the shell before being pressed;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the forming tool or die shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now more specifically to the several 5 views, it will be seen that the button is of the Mushroom type, although of course, it is to be understood that I do special type not wish to be limited to any of button orto any special shape of opening in the center of the button.

Preferably, the button is made from a thin, ductile metal, such as steel, is circular in outline, and has the slightly curved upper surface 1, which merges, as at 2, with the peripheral flattened rim 3. The rim is then rolled, as at 4, and projects slightly inwardly and upwardly, as at 5.

There is the usual central depression 6 With the 1 bottom wall 7, which latter is provided with the usual thread holes 8. It will be understood that should any other shaped depression be desired, such as a square or elliptical depression, it would, of course, come within the purview of my invention.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a fragmentary portion of the forming tool or male member 9 of a die, and there may be seen the relatively flattened peripheral rim 10. By forming the die in this manner (rather than with a feathered edge, which would have to be provided unless the flattened rim were formed on the button), the life of the same is about one-third greater than would otherwise be the case.

It will be understood that the shell 11 is on a reduced scale with relation to the buttons shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but is still about twice the actual size of the button, as Figs. 1 to 3 are enlarged about six times over the However, any sized button may be as conveniently manufactured.

It will also be understood that after the shell 11 is automatically placed on the receiving die, (not shown), the upper member 9 of the forming tool or die will descend to stamp the shell to shape, as shown in Fig. 2, after which the button will be transferred to a machine to pierce or form the thread holes 8 in the bottom wall 7 of the depression.

Attention is called to the fact that by having the flattened rim 3 merging with the curved or arcuate upper surface 1 of the button, it is possible to make the die, that is, the upper half or male member, with a relatively wide rim 10. Heretofore, if a button were made, wherein the upper surface was curved throughout the entire diameter of the button, this portion 10 of the die would have to be a feathered or sharp edge, which resulted in the breaking-down of the die in a short while.

By employing a relatively wide rim 10 on the die, not only is the length of life of the die inordinary button.

holes, after which it may, ofcourse, be finishedin any manner desired.

It might be reiterated that although I have shown a central circular depression formed with the thread holes in the bottom wall, any other shaped depression might be as easily formed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised a relatively thin sheet metal button that may be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively small cost after the made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

A relatively flat button formed of thin ductile metal and including a peripheral rim having a flat'top surface, the button also having a slightly dies have once been arcuate upper surface merging with the inner periphery of the rim, the outer edge of the rim being rolled substantially semi-circular in cross section and extending beneath the said rim, the arouate surface of the button being provided centrally with a depression and the bottom wall of the depression lying substantially in the same horizontal plane as the lowermost edge of the rolled rim, the bottom wall of the said depression I being provided with thread holes, and the width of the rim being as great as the thickness of the metal of which the button is formed.

7 WALTER 'r. ABE Q 

